Portsmouth mayor starts cost-saving committee

PORTSMOUTH — A new Mayor's Blue Ribbon committee will focus on finding savings in the budget by combining services with various departments.

Adam Leech

PORTSMOUTH — A new Mayor's Blue Ribbon committee will focus on finding savings in the budget by combining services with various departments.

The Committee on Operational Efficiencies will initially focus on potential collaborations with the school and municipal departments, and later with police and fire. The membership is expected to include city councilors and School Board members in the initial phase to look at things like combining maintenance services to find savings.

"The idea would be to assist with the budget process going forward with input from both bodies," Mayor Tom Ferrini told the council at a recent meeting. "The school is the biggest department at this time, so I think it would be best to do that in the first instance then perhaps look at police and fire."

Ferrini said he wanted the committee to separate school and public safety so as to not waste public safety officials' time while efficiencies are being found on the school side. He did not rule out bringing all the departments together if there are specific efficiencies that can be found citywide. City Manager John Bohenko said some of the issues, such as maintenance, may be complex because they might impact collective bargaining agreements.

While there may be efficiencies found that "fall out of the trees" to assist the fiscal year 2011 budget, the most likely beneficiary will be the FY2012 budget — one expected to be equally, if not more, challenging than the budget being discussed now.

"I think this is going to have a longer fuse," said Ferrini. "It will happen during the (current) budget season, but I think we're looking at a longer period of time in terms of the budget."

Bohenko said it will be important for the both the council and school board to "buy in" to any potential collaborations for the process to be successful.

Assistant Mayor Nancy Novelline Clayburgh put her support behind the initiative, noting the most recent collaboration between the school athletic department and recreation department as a good example of efficiency.

"We've all have seen how successful it has worked with recreation department, but we also did that with legal staff a few years ago," said Clayburgh. "We've certainly had success in the past and I think this is a great idea."

Ferrini said Wednesday he hopes to select a committee soon.

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